Stinger bit for loader buckets

ABSTRACT

A loader bucket has a stinger bit movably mounted on a bottom wall thereof for movement between a raised position coplanar with the bottom wall and a lowered, digging position therebelow. Positioning means are provided on the stinger bit and bottom wall of the bucket to selectively hold the stinger bit in either the raised or lowered position during an earthworking operation.

United States Patent [191 Moser 1 STlNGER BIT FOR LOADER BUCKETS [75]inventor:

[73] Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor 0)., Peoria, 111.

[22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1974 [21 Appl. No.1 462,380

Raymond L. Maser, Tremont, I11.

[52] US. Cl .2 37/141 R; 37/117.5; 214/145 [51] Int. Cl. E02E 3/81 [58]Field of Search 172/802, 777, 778, 664;

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2.670362 3/1954 Siebring214/145 3,011,274 12/1961 Richter 37/141 R 3,238,648 3/1966 Cobb et alli 172/664 3,528,509 9/1970 Den Bleyker 172/802 1 Aug. 5, 1975 3,559,7492/1971 Fryrear et a1. l. 172/802 3,789,524 2/1974 Mashuda 214/145 X3,795.070 3/1974 Bronson et a1 37/141 R X Primary E.mmirzerClifford D.Crowder Attorney, Agent. or FirmPhillips. Moore. Weissenberger Lempio &Strabala [57] ABSTRACT A loader bucket has a stinger bit movably mountedon a bottom wall thereof for movement between a raised position coplanarwith the bottom wall and a lowered. digging position therebelow.Positioning means are provided on the stinger bit and bottom wall of thebucket to selectively hold the stinger bit in either the raised orlowered position during an earthworking operation.

18 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 STINGER BIT FOR LOADER BUCKETS BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The draw-bar pull required by a loader working inhard-packed material oftentimes reaches a sufficiently high magnitude toinhibit the earthworking operation. It is therefore necessary to resortto a loader having a substantially higher draw-bar horsepower tocomplete the work. In many such work applications. a contractor isunable to procure such a loader, thus resulting in undue economiclosses.

SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION An object of this invention is to overcome theabove briefly described problem by providing an economical andnoncomplex stinger bit for an earthworking implement, particularly aloader bucket, which is adapted to increase the operational efficiencyand versatility thereof. The loader bucket comprises a bottom wallhaving a cutting edge disposed forwardly thereon and an opening formedthrough the bottom wall which movably mounts the stinger bit therein.Positioning means on the stinger bit and bottom wall cooperate toselectively hold the stinger bit in either a raised positionsubstantially coplanar with the bottom wall or in a lowered, workingposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention willbecome apparent from the following description and accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a loader bucket having a stingerbit of this invention mounted thereon; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the loader bucket with portionsthereof broken away to more clearly disclose the stinger bit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates a loader bucket adapted to beattached on a loader in a conventional manner by a pair of laterallyspaced lift arms 11 and a tilt linkage comprising a pair of links 12.The loader bucket comprises a bottom wall 13, normally disposedhorizontally during an earthworking operation, having an interruptedtwo-part cutting edge I4 disposed forwardly thereon. A rectangularopening 15 is formed through the bottom wall and has a stinger bit 16mounted therein.

Referring to FIG. 2, the stinger bit is adapted to be moved manuallybetween a raised position, generally coplanar with respect to bottomwall 13, and a lowered phantom-lined position below the bottom wall.FIG. 1 also discloses the stinger bit in its lowered position whereby itis adapted to substantially lower the drawbar horsepower required duringan earthworking operation. In its raised position, a cutting edge 17,disposed forwardly on the stinger bit, is disposed in substantial linearrelationship with respect to two-part cutting edge 14.

The stinger bit further comprises a substantially flat bottom plate 18,also disposed in coplanar relationship with respect to bottom wall 13 ofthe bucket when the stinger bit is raised, and an upwardly curveddeflector portion 19 extending rearwardly from the bottom plate. Adownwardly curved plate or cross-brace 20 extends downwardly from therearward end of deflector portion 19 and is secured to the bottom plate.The bottom plate terminates at its rearward end at an upwardly curvedportion 21 which is pivotally mounted on a pair of laterally spacedbrackets 22 by a pivot pin 23.

Deflector portion 20 is preferably concentric with respect to the pivotaxis of pin 23 as well as a rearward edge of the bottom wall, definingopening IS. The height of deflector portion 19 and such concentricrelationship insures a substantially close fit between bottom wall 13 ofthe bucket and the stinger bit to prevent the egress of loaded materialtherebetween. Pivot pin support brackets 22 are disposed laterallyinwardly of lift arms 11 to prevent interference therebetween upontilting of the bucket on the lift arms by links I2.

The stinger bit further comprises a pair of laterally spaced andvertically disposed side plates 24 (one shown), each having ahorizontally disposed first flange 25 secured thereon to extendoutwardly from a respective side plate. The flanges comprise positioningmeans for holding the stinger bit in its lowered position of operationwhen engaged with a top surface of bottom wall 13. The positioning meansfurther comprises a pair of lugs 26, each releasably attached to bottomwall 13 of the bucket by a bolt 27.

The inner end of each lug engages a like-shaped first notch 28 formed onan upper edge of side plate 24. When it is desired to raise the stingerbit to its FIG. 2 position, bolts 27 are removed along with lugs 26, thestinger bit is raised and the lugs are inserted into a second set ofsecond notches 29, each formed between a lower edge of a side plate andbottom plate 18. In such position, second flanges 30 engage a bottomsurface of cutting edge 14.

It should be understood that the above-described loader bucket and itsattached stinger bit may be suitably modified without departing from thespirit of this invention. For example, the stinger bit could be set backinto bottom wall I3 of the bucket from the position shown in FIG. I andcutting edge 14 could thus comprise a single continuous member. Also,the raising and lowering of the stinger bit could be accomplished by asuitably attached and remotely controlled hydraulic actuator, forexample. In addition, reinforcements could be welded or otherwisesuitably secured to bottom wall 13 on either lateral side of the stingerbit to increase the overall structural integrity of the loader bucket.

I claim:

I. A loader bucket comprising a bottom wall having a cutting edgedisposed forwardly thereon,

means forming an opening through said bottom wall,

a stinger bit movably mounted on said bottom wall for movement in saidopening between a raised position at least generally coplanar withrespect to said bottom wall and a lowered position below said bottomwall, and

positioning means for selectively holding said stinger bit in saidraised or lowered position, said positioning means comprising a pair oflaterally spaced side plates secured to a bottom plate of said stingerbit and a first flange secured to an upper edge of each of said sideplates to extend laterally outwardly therefrom to engage a top surfaceof said bottom wall.

2. The loader bucket of claim 1 wherein said stinger bit comprises asubstantially flat bottom plate at least generally disposed in coplanarrelationship with respect to said bottom wall when said stinger bit isin its raised position and a pair of laterally spaced and upstandingside plates secured to opposite lateral sides of said bottom plate.

3. The loader bucket of claim 2 wherein said stinger bit furthercomprises a cutting edge disposed forwardly on said bottom plate andfurther disposed in substantial linear relationship with respect to thecutting edge disposed forwardly on the bottom wall of said loader bucketwhen said stinger bit is in its raised position.

4. The loader bucket of claim 2 wherein said stinger bit is pivotallymounted at a rearward end thereof beneath said loader bucket.

5. The loader bucket of claim 4 wherein said stinger bit furthercomprises a deflecting plate extending upwardly and rearwardly from saidbottom plate.

6. The loader bucket of claim 5 wherein said stinger bit furthercomprises a reinforcing plate having its upper end secured to saiddeflecting plate and its lower end secured to said bottom plate.

7. The loader bucket of claim 6 wherein said reinforcement plate iscurved and is substantially concentric with respect to a pivot axis ofpivot means pivotally mounting said stinger bit on said bottom wall.

8. The loader bucket of claim I wherein said positioning means furthercomprises a second flange secured to a bottom edge of each of said sideplates to extend laterally outwardly therefrom to engage a bottomsurface of said cutting edge when said stinger bit is in its raisedposition.

9. The loader bucket of claim 8 wherein said positioning means furthercomprises at least one lug releas ably attached on said bottom wall andat least one first notch formed through at least one of said sideplates, said lug disposed in said notch.

10. The loader bucket of claim 9 wherein a second notch is formed in atleast one of said side plates in vertically spaced relationship withrespect to said first notch, said lug adapted to be inserted into eithersaid first notch or said second notch.

II. The loader bucket of claim 10 wherein a pair of said lugs arereleasably attached to said bottom wall and a pair of each of said firstand second notches are formed through each of said side plates.

12. An earthworking implement comprising a support member,

means forming an opening through said support member,

a stinger bit movably mounted on said support member for movement insaid opening between a raised position at least generally coplanar withrespect to said support member and a lowered position below said supportmember and positioning means for holding said stinger bit in said raisedor lowered position comprising first stop means secured on said stingerbit to extend laterally outwardly therefrom to engage a top surface ofsaid support member when said stinger bit is in its lowered position andsecond stop means on said stinger bit and disposed vertically downwardlyfrom said first stop means to engage a bottom surface of said supportmember when said stinger bit is in its raised position.

13. The earthworking implement of claim 12 wherein said positioningmeans further comprises at least one lug releasably attached to saidsupport member and a pair of vertically spaced notches formed in saidstinger bit and adapted to be alternately engaged by said lug.

14. The earthworking implement of claim 12 wherein said stinger bitcomprises a substantially flat bottom plate at least generally disposedin coplanar relationship with respect to said support member when saidstinger bit is in its raised position and a cutting edge disposedforwardly on said bottom plate and further disposed in substantiallinear relationship with respect to a cutting edge disposed forwardly onsaid support member when said stinger bit is in its raised position.

15. The earthworking implement of claim 12 wherein said stinger bit ispivotally mounted at a rearward end thereof on said support member.

16. The earthworking implement of claim 15 wherein said stinger bitfurther comprises a deflecting plate extending upwardly and rearwardlyfrom said bottom plate.

17. The earthworking implement of claim 16 wherein said stinger bitfurther comprises a reinforcing plate having its upper end secured tosaid deflecting plate and its lower end secured to said bottom plate.

18. The earthworking implement of claim 17 wherein said reinforcementplate is curved and is substantially concentric with respect to a pivotaxis of pivot means pivotally mounting said stinger bit on said supportmember.

1. A loader bucket comprising a bottom wall having a cutting edgedisposed forwardly thereon, means forming an opening through said bottomwall, a stinger bit movably mounted on said bottom wall for movement insaid opening between a raised position at least generally coplanar withrespect to said bottom wall and a lowered position below said bottomwall, and positioning means for selectively holding said stinger bit insaid raised or lowered position, said positioning means comprising apair of laterally spaced side plates secured to a bottom plate of saidstinger bit and a first flange secured to an upper edge of each of saidside plates to extend laterally outwardly therefrom to engage a topsurface of said bottom wall.
 2. The loader bucket of claim 1 whereinsaid stinger bit comprises a substantially flat bottom plate at leastgenerally disposed in coplanar relationship with respect to said bottomwall when said stinger bit is in its raised position and a pair oflaterally spaced and upstanding side plates secured to opposite lateralsides of said bottom plate.
 3. The loader bucket of claim 2 wherein saidstinger bit further comprises a cutting edge disposed forwardly on saidbottom plate and further disposed in substantial linear relationshipwith respect to the cutting edge disposed forwardly on the bottom wallof said loader bucket when said stinger bit is in its raised position.4. The loader bucket of claim 2 wherein saId stinger bit is pivotallymounted at a rearward end thereof beneath said loader bucket.
 5. Theloader bucket of claim 4 wherein said stinger bit further comprises adeflecting plate extending upwardly and rearwardly from said bottomplate.
 6. The loader bucket of claim 5 wherein said stinger bit furthercomprises a reinforcing plate having its upper end secured to saiddeflecting plate and its lower end secured to said bottom plate.
 7. Theloader bucket of claim 6 wherein said reinforcement plate is curved andis substantially concentric with respect to a pivot axis of pivot meanspivotally mounting said stinger bit on said bottom wall.
 8. The loaderbucket of claim 1 wherein said positioning means further comprises asecond flange secured to a bottom edge of each of said side plates toextend laterally outwardly therefrom to engage a bottom surface of saidcutting edge when said stinger bit is in its raised position.
 9. Theloader bucket of claim 8 wherein said positioning means furthercomprises at least one lug releasably attached on said bottom wall andat least one first notch formed through at least one of said sideplates, said lug disposed in said notch.
 10. The loader bucket of claim9 wherein a second notch is formed in at least one of said side platesin vertically spaced relationship with respect to said first notch, saidlug adapted to be inserted into either said first notch or said secondnotch.
 11. The loader bucket of claim 10 wherein a pair of said lugs arereleasably attached to said bottom wall and a pair of each of said firstand second notches are formed through each of said side plates.
 12. Anearthworking implement comprising a support member, means forming anopening through said support member, a stinger bit movably mounted onsaid support member for movement in said opening between a raisedposition at least generally coplanar with respect to said support memberand a lowered position below said support member and positioning meansfor holding said stinger bit in said raised or lowered positioncomprising first stop means secured on said stinger bit to extendlaterally outwardly therefrom to engage a top surface of said supportmember when said stinger bit is in its lowered position and second stopmeans on said stinger bit and disposed vertically downwardly from saidfirst stop means to engage a bottom surface of said support member whensaid stinger bit is in its raised position.
 13. The earthworkingimplement of claim 12 wherein said positioning means further comprisesat least one lug releasably attached to said support member and a pairof vertically spaced notches formed in said stinger bit and adapted tobe alternately engaged by said lug.
 14. The earthworking implement ofclaim 12 wherein said stinger bit comprises a substantially flat bottomplate at least generally disposed in coplanar relationship with respectto said support member when said stinger bit is in its raised positionand a cutting edge disposed forwardly on said bottom plate and furtherdisposed in substantial linear relationship with respect to a cuttingedge disposed forwardly on said support member when said stinger bit isin its raised position.
 15. The earthworking implement of claim 12wherein said stinger bit is pivotally mounted at a rearward end thereofon said support member.
 16. The earthworking implement of claim 15wherein said stinger bit further comprises a deflecting plate extendingupwardly and rearwardly from said bottom plate.
 17. The earthworkingimplement of claim 16 wherein said stinger bit further comprises areinforcing plate having its upper end secured to said deflecting plateand its lower end secured to said bottom plate.
 18. The earthworkingimplement of claim 17 wherein said reinforcement plate is curved and issubstantially concentric with respect to a pivot axis of pivot meanspivotally mounting said stinger bit on said support member.